Emergency lighting unit



Filed April 19, 1945 Patented M1 1945 1 E T OFF'lCE EMERGENCY LIGHTINGUliIT, l, C FrederickBaEmbur y, Warsaw, N. Y., assigno17 to Emhury; Manufacturing C mpan War aw l N.Y.,,afcorp0rationofNewYdrk Application A rirjr9, 194s,.seria1No.4sa5e5 N scams; to]. zin -n This invention relates to emergencylighting units of the variety adapted to be energized upon t failure of anormal or main lighting circuit, for

indicatingand illuminating exits and other 10-;

cations during an emergency. One object of the invention is to provide animproved unitvof the above character having a more simple, economical and practical form of construction.

Another object is to provide such a unit in a watertight form of construction {particularly adapted for indicating escape passageways on ships, when the ship's main lighting system is disabled. T 1

Still another object is toprovide a lighting unit a such as described havingbattery and lamp compartments compactly. moldedhof plastic or other i known non-conducting and non-corrosive material particularly adapted for marine work;

To these andother ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being'pointed out in i In the drawing: Fig. I is a plan view, of, present invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross secti'o the line2a-2a in Fig.1; l l

the claims at the end of the specification. f

Fig; 3 is a further enlargement, of a detail shown in Fig. 2, and

electric circuit.

a1 1 view on The lnventionis: embodied the present instance, by way of; illustration, in a unit comprising a metal casing [0 (Fig. 2) of substantially} cylindrical shape, as shown, having a closed water tight construction, except for an opening H inone of its ends.

The edges of the casing about this opening are preferably reinforced and stiffened by a metal ring l2 and the casing edges are preferably rolled around the inner circumference of the ring, to afford a strong, finished, I casing flange, as indicated at IS. The opposite. I end of the casing hasflxed on the outside thereof a ring I of substantial thickness and rigidity.

having radially extending lugs l5 formed with.

openirgs lfl to receive screws or the' like for attaching the unit to a wall orother support.

{Casing l0 contains a relay and some of the electrical connections, as hereafter described,

and serves as an outerhousing for an inner con 11 tainer which is molded of non-conductive and. non-corrosive material, such as the known plastie or rubber materials, (to provide compartments 1 a for 'the battery and lamp. "This inner container,

is positioned in andforms the closure for the opening H of the casing. It comprises, prefer ably, ahead portion (Fig. 2) from which pro- \jects a circular lateral flange 18- in overlapping relation with the casing flange I3. A plurality of screws 19] are passed through openings in drawthe; same tightlytogether, with an interpos d gasket 20,; so asto form af water tight closure for-the casing, 1

mentsoi thencontainer, and partition 2| has tially'cylindrical wallZTfor thebattery compartment 23, having itsouterflen'd closed by a detachao Fig. 4 is a diagrammaticillustration of the with a high degree of safety by two water tight 35f variety, preferably of the. known commercial type having compression spring terminals 28 and. f 29. Partition 2| carries {at its center a'conduct a unit embodying the ing plate contact 30 for-engagement by the cenw tralbattery contact28 and also a concentric con ductinglringil for'engagement by the lateral battery contact29. It will be seen from this on partition 2! in any position. of rotary adjustment iniwhich thebattery may be inserted in the compartment. The battery is thus protected housings, one .withinfanjother, the innerheusing y or container 22 being oicorrosionrresistin material not. subject .to attack by battfi y hfi k The lamp compartment is formed by partition at and acircul'ar flange azr iec i om t e pints: preferablywhaving a close sliding fit an I opening in partition 21 and fixed at its opposite i; d: to ithe, contaetyplate -30, so. th h? b Container head comprises also partition 2 ffor separating the battery and lamp c0mpartformed integrally therewith, and projecting from one side thereof into thecasing, a substan able cover 24 threadedly connectedthereto, as at 25, with an-interposed gasket '28 to insure-water tight sealing of-thecompartment. The battery, indicated at 2l, may be of any knownor suitable arrangementthat the batterycontacts will en-- gage. properly] with the complementary contacts spring 28 tends to press the pin into engagement with the lamp terminal.

The lens 33, which closes the lampmompartment 45, is made of glass, or one of the known translucent plastics, preferably in dome shape, vas shown, and provided around the outside of its base with a screw thread 4| cooperating with a mating thread on the inner surface of the flange 32. Reflector is advantageously constructed with an outwardly bent, marginal flange 42 positioned for anchoring engagement by the edge of lens 33, with a sealing gasket 43 between the reflector flange and partition 2!. be conveniently unscrewed for access to the lamp compartment, and it provides, when screwed .ductor 51 with one of the switch contacts controlled by the relay, as hereafter described.

The relay device may be of any known or suit able character comprising normally open switch contacts which are closed to energize the emergency unit circuit whenever the relay is deenergized by failure of the main circuit in which it is connected. The relay employedin the present invention, for example, preferablygcomprises a solenoid 58 mounted on and insulated from a conducting metal frame 59. Frame 59 is supported on insulating block 55 and comprises a The lens may home, a simple way of holding thelamp parts in place, as well as a water tight closure for the lamp compartment. V r

The construction of the inner container of molded material has thefurther advantages that the associated electrical, conductors may be integrally molded in the walls of the container and so strongly supported; with' sealed passage from. i

material, as shown. One end. of the clip is extended into the lamp compartment to provide a spring contact finger45,positioned for engagement withthe lamp reflector 34. as shown. The other end of the clip isextended through the wall of the battery compartment to the outside of the head l1, above gasket 20 and bent around flange l8, adjacent one of the screws l9. Thisend 56- of the clip has an opening 41, Fig. 3, at which it embraces the .shank of the screw, but the opening is larger than the screw from which the .clip' is insulated until brought into contact with. the screw head when the screw is turned home in. the casing flange. The screw thus serves as .an inconspicuous and substantially concealed; external switch by which the unit may be-rendered inoperative by backing off the screw,- as shown in Fig. 3; whenever the main lighting circuit, for example, is purposely disabled, so as to avoid wastage of battery power. A switch of this character provides a quick and convenient means for temporarily disabling the unit, with the use of a screw driver, without detachment of any of the parts,while theconcealed nature of the switch obviates unauthorized tampering with theunit.

The other battery terminal 29 and its cooper .ating contact ring-3| are likewise connectedin circuit by means of a metal conductor 48 fixed at one end to ring 3| and integrally molded in the material of the 'container. The conductor passes through the container wall 22 to its outer side where it is electrically connected to an annula-r metal contact 49, also preferably molded in the container materiali Contact 49 is thus arranged for cooperation with a spring contact finger 50 fixed in the casing 10, inany position of post on which is pivotally supported an armature arm 6|. Fixed on this arm is a contact 52 fOr'engagement with a stationary contact 63 on an arm 64 fixed on the insulating block 55 and grounded by a conductor connected with the Solenoid, 58 is connected, through a casing l0. resistance 66, with the main power line 61, as shown and well understood in the art, and while solenoid 58 is so energized, it tends to pull arm 5| downwardly and separate the contacts 62 and 63. However, a tension spring 58 connected to frame 59 and the other end of arm 61 acts, when solenoid 58 isdeenergized, to swing arm Bl to engage the contacts 52 and 63 and close the emergency unit circuit until solenoid 58 is again energized.

For connecting the relay solenoid with the main power line, casing It! has an opening equipped with-a nipple fitting69 1 (Fig. 1) of any knownor suitable design for transmittingthe external solenoid connections: through the casing wall and maintaining the wall substantially sealed against ingress of moisture. l The emergency unit circuit thus includes bate tery terminal. 28, pin- 39, lamp 3], reflector 34,

clip 45 and its associated screwl9, which is grounded on the casing l0. Casing IOis connected by conductor 55 to the fixed contact53. Thecooperating contact 62 is connected through frame 59 and conductors 51 and 53 with contact finger 5U, conductor 48and the other terminal 29 of the battery.

It is apparent from the above description that the invention accomplishes its objects. The invention provides, in simple, economical and practical form, a water tight character of-construc tion in which the battery and lamp compartments are molded of insulating and corrosionresisting material, with the important advantages described forsupporting, sealing, insulating and housing the electrical and chemicalbattery parts. The invention affords a compact, rugged. and durable emergency unit,1particular1y adapted to meet the. severe requirements of marine usage.

While the invention has been hereinabove described in connection with the details of a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that such disclosure is intended to be illustrative, rather than limiting in sense, as it is contemplated that various modiflcations in the construcoccur to those'skilled in the art, within the spirit of the invention and the claims. a r

I claim: i

scope of the appended l. Anemergency lighting unit comprising 'a watertight metal casing having an opening, a container of non-conducting and non-corrosive material positioned in said opening and having a connection with said casing forming awater tight closure .for said opening, said container having a portion housed insaid casing. in. spaced relation with the walls thereof andiormed to provide a battery compartment with a detach-.

with one another.

able water tight closure and said container having also a portion outside said casing formed to provide a lamp compartment, a lens connected with said lamp compartment to form a water tight closure therefor, a relay insaid casing for connection with an external source of power and [water tight closure therefor, a metallic reflector having normally open switch contacts provided withmeans for closing the same on failure of said power, and an electrical circuit including conducting means extending through and, supported by said container material for connecting a battery, lamp and switch contacts in circuit 2. An emergency lighting unit comprising a metal casing having an openingin a wall thereof provided with a flange, a container of plastic material positioned in said opening and having thereon a flange connected with said casing flange and forming a water tight closure for said opening,said container having a portion housed in said casing in spaced relation with th walls thereof and formed to provide a battery compartment with a threadedly attached, water tight closure and also a portion outside said casing formed to provide alamp compartment, a lens having a threaded connection with said v vide lamp and battery compartments a relay in said casing for connection with an external lamp compartment and forming a water tight closure therefor, a relay in said casing for connection with an external source of power and having normally open switch contacts provided with means for closing the same on failure of said power, and an electrical circuit including conducting means extending through and supported by said container material for connecting a battery, lamp and said switch contacts in ci1 cuit with one another.

3; An emergency lighting unitcomprising a water tight metal casing having an opening, a

container of plastic material positionedin said opening and having a connection with said casing forming a water tight closure for said opening, said container having a portion housed in said casing in, spaced relation with the walls thereof and formed to provide a water tight battery compartment and also a portion outside said casingformed to provide a lamp compartment, a substantially hemispherical lens having at its edge a threaded connectionwith said lamp compartment to form a water tight closure therefor, a metallic reflector in said lamp compartment formed with a threaded socket and with aportion engaged and anchored by said lens, a lamp mounted in and electrically connected with said reflector socket,a relay in said casing for connection with anexternal source of power and having normally open switch cone tacts provided with means for closing the same on failure of said power, and an electrical circuit including conducting means extending through and sealed in said container material for connecting a battery, lamp and said reflector 4. An emergency lighting unit comprising a metallic casing having an opening, a container of plastic material positioned in saidopening and having a connection with said casing forming a watertight closure forsaid opening, said container having a portion housed in said case and switch contact in circuit with one another;

end thereof with a circumferential ing in spaced relation therewith and formed to provide a battery compartment and also a portion outside said casing formed to provide a 1 la'mp compartment, a lens having a threaded connection with said lamp compartmentto form a in said lamp compartment formed with a threaded socket and with a portion for anchor- Y ling engagement by said lens, a lamp mounted in and electrically connected with said reflector socket, a conductor formed in said container material with a spring contact at one end in engagement with said reflector and with its other end connected with said casing, a relay in said casing for connection with an external source of power and having normally open switchcontacts provided with mean for closingthe sameon failure of said power, a conductor connecting one of said switch contacts with said casing, and conductors extending through and sealed in said container material for connecting a battery and lamp and with the other of said switch contacts.

5. An emergency lighting unit comprising a casing, a container of plastic material housed at least in part in said casing and formed to prosource of power and having normally open 1 switch contacts providedwith means forclosing the same on failure of said power, a conducting ring on the exterior of said container in said fcasing, a spring contacton said casing for engaging said ring in various positions of said container in said casing and having a connection with one of said switch contacts, and a circuit for connecting a battery and lamp in said compartments with the other of saidswitch "contacts including conducting means extending through and sealed in the material of said container compartments.

6; An emergency lighting unit comprising a water tight metal casing of substantially cylinrdrical shape having one end thereof formed with also a cylindrical flange outside said casing formed to provide a lamp compartment and a transverse partition separating said battery and lamp compartments, a lens securedto said cylindrical flange to form a water tight closure for said lamp compartment, a relay in said casing for connection with an external source of power and havingnormally open switchcontacts provided with means for closing the same on failure of said power, andan, electrical circuit includin conducting means extending through and in sulated bysaid container material for connect 'in'g a battery, lam and said switch contacts in circuit with one another. FREQERICK B. EMBURY. 

